I used to sell model airplanes in a large hobby shop. We sold Glo , gliders and Large and small electrics. Ialways tell new fliers, about what you have heard in here. GET AN INSTRUCTOR! Either a friend or, better yet, at a club. Buy whatever the instructor tells you to buy. Learn to fly whatever he flies, electric or glo. By the time you solo you will know so much about all this it will amaze you! Then you will know what to get for a second plane. Can you learn without an instructor with small electrics? Yes ,kind of, but if you ever want to fly bigger planes you will need an instructor then.